Exceptional Children Adaptive Curriculum Teacher

PURPOSE:

The Exceptional Children (EC) Teacher – Adaptive Curriculum provides specially designed instruction, behavioral support, functional life skills instruction, and individualized educational programming to students with significant cognitive disabilities and other disabilities requiring an adaptive curriculum as identified through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. The teacher develops and implements instructional programs emphasizing communication, functional academics, independent living skills, vocational preparation, community participation, and transition services while maintaining a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment.

This position works collaboratively with related service providers, instructional assistants, nurses, behavior specialists, families, and community agencies to address each student's educational, behavioral, medical, functional, and social-emotional needs.

Employees assigned to this classification may serve students in adaptive curriculum classrooms, separate settings, community-based instructional programs, vocational training environments, or other specialized instructional settings as determined by district operational needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of IDEA, North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, Section 504, FERPA, and applicable State Board policies.
• Knowledge of North Carolina Extended Content Standards, alternate assessment, transition planning, and functional life skills instruction.
• Knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices for students with significant disabilities.
• Knowledge of positive behavior intervention and support strategies.
• Knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication systems.
• Knowledge of adaptive equipment and assistive technology.
• Ability to safely supervise students exhibiting significant behavioral, developmental, cognitive, communication, or physical disabilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with instructional assistants, therapists, nurses, psychologists, behavior specialists, and families.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment during emergency situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and community partners. 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Holds or is eligible to hold a North Carolina Exceptional Children teaching license appropriate for assignment.
• Maintains all licensure requirements established by NCDPI.
• Successfully completes all district-required training, including training associated with behavioral intervention, crisis response, student safety, and other specialized instructional responsibilities assigned to the position. 

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT: 10 months

SALARY: State Salary Schedule 

FSLA STATUS: Exempt

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provides specially designed instruction aligned with each student's Individualized Education Program.
2. Develops, implements, and monitors IEPs.
3. Serves as case manager for assigned students.
4. Delivers instruction aligned to the North Carolina Extended Content Standards.
5. Plans and provides instruction in functional academics, communication, social skills, independent living skills, vocational readiness, and transition.
6. Collaborates with related service providers to implement therapeutic recommendations.
7. Implements individualized communication systems, assistive technology, and adaptive instructional materials.
8. Supervises instructional assistants assigned to the classroom.
9. Collects, analyzes, and reports student performance data.
10. Maintains accurate educational records in compliance with federal and state requirements.
11. Communicates regularly with parents and guardians regarding student progress.
12. Implements Behavior Intervention Plans and individualized behavioral supports.
13. Utilizes district-approved de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention procedures.
14. Participates in district-required behavioral intervention and safety training.
15. Assists in maintaining a safe instructional environment for students, staff, and visitors.
16. Assists students with functional daily living skills as identified in their IEPs.
17. Provides or supervises assistance with feeding, hygiene, toileting, dressing, positioning, mobility, transfers, and other personal care activities as required by student needs and IEPs.
18. Utilizes adaptive equipment and specialized instructional devices safely and appropriately.
19. Participates in community-based instruction and vocational training experiences.
20. Supervises students during transportation transitions, arrival, dismissal, field trips, community instruction, lunch, and other school activities.
21. Responds appropriately during behavioral, medical, or safety emergencies.
22. Implements district-approved physical intervention procedures when required by student behavior, authorized by district policy, and consistent with required training.
23. Coordinates with school nurses and medical personnel regarding student health care plans.
24. Maintains required certifications and professional development.
25. Participates in school improvement initiatives.
26. Complies with Board policies, administrative procedures, and professional standards.
27. Performs other duties assigned by the principal consistent with the purpose of this position. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, crouch, crawl, reach, and work at floor level for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Must be able to move quickly throughout classrooms and other educational settings in response to student needs or emergencies.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, reposition, or assist with transferring students, adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, instructional materials, and other classroom equipment.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds routinely and more than 50 pounds with assistance or mechanical equipment when required as part of student care or classroom operations.
• Must be able to physically assist students with mobility, transfers, positioning, toileting, hygiene, feeding, dressing, and other personal care activities as identified by student IEPs or health plans.
• Must be able to visually, auditorily, and physically monitor student safety and behavior throughout the instructional day.
• Must be able to safely operate adaptive equipment, mobility devices, lifts, positioning equipment, and other specialized instructional equipment after appropriate training.
• Must be able to participate in district-approved crisis prevention and intervention procedures consistent with district training and assigned responsibilities.
• Must be able to assist in emergency evacuations, including assisting non-ambulatory students or students requiring physical assistance.
• Must be able to tolerate a fast-paced work environment involving frequent interruptions, changing student needs, and behavioral crises.
• Must be able to utilize computers, communication devices, instructional technology, and adaptive technology for extended periods.
• Must be able to travel to community-based instructional sites and other district locations as assigned. 

Adaptive Curriculum EC teachers are expected to utilize district-approved de-escalation techniques and crisis response procedures appropriate to their assignment and training. This position is routinely assigned responsibilities involving personal care, student lifting and transfers, and implementation of physical restraint procedures as primary job functions. 

DISCLAIMERS:

Assignment and Reassignment

Employees hired into this classification may be assigned or reassigned to schools, grade levels, instructional settings, classrooms, and student populations within the Adaptive Curriculum Exceptional Children program based upon student enrollment, staffing requirements, district operational needs, licensure, certification, and applicable law.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Onslow County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.

EOE